Abstract
By comparing the measured intensities and spectra of solar particles at the top of the atmosphere with measured neutron monitor intensity increases at sea level for several solar particle events, a set of yield functions has been derived for these neutron monitors in terms of low-rigidity (0.5–2 BV) particles incident on the top of the atmosphere. The monitors are found to be significantly more sensitive to these low-rigidity particles than has recently been believed. Various characteristics of the response of neutron monitors to solar flare particles are discussed. In particular a method is described by which the intensity increase vs. latitude curve for the neutron monitors during these events can be utilized to derive a measurement of the deviations in geomagnetic cutoff from those expected from the earth's internal field only. Applying this to the November 15, 1960, event suggests that a ring current of moment M = 0.6 ME and radius R = 7.7 RE was flowing at 1130 U.T. on this day.
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